ARLINGTON, Va. — Pharmacy theft is on the rise among crimes against retailers, according to a new study by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).
In releasing the results of the 2011 Crime Trends and Leading Practices Survey on Thursday, RILA said respondents reported the most significant increases in shoplifting and pharmacy theft.
More than half of respondents reported an increase in the frequency with which organized crime rings committed shoplifting, and 41% saw an increase in shoplifting by individuals acting alone.
RILA noted that 64% of respondents reported an increase in theft of pharmaceutical products.
"With input from the largest retailers in America, the results provide keen insight into the state of crime in the retail industry," Lisa LaBruno, vice president of loss prevention and legal affairs at RILA, said in a statement. "Data detailing how crime is trending and what deterrent strategies have worked for retailers will help retailers focus their resources and develop effective strategies for mitigating risk."
According to the survey, online marketplaces continue to be a favored venue for the resale of stolen products. Most retailers (61%) said they saw a rise in the frequency with which stolen merchandise was resold online, and none reported a decrease in the online sale of stolen goods. Retailers also reported that their stolen merchandise was resold at flea markets and storefront bodegas more frequently.
"In reviewing the results, we were disappointed — though not surprised — to see the continued rise in shoplifting by organized groups and individuals acting alone," LaBruno added. "It’s concerning that retailers continue to fight an uphill battle against the resale of stolen goods online, in flea markets and other venues. As long as there are channels through which thieves can resell stolen goods, it will be difficult to stem the tide of organized retail crime [ORC]. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to explore state and federal legislative solutions and to enhance partnerships with external stakeholders to find a solution to the growing problem of ORC."
Other areas highlighted in the report, RILA said, include crimes committed by individual perpetrators, employee theft and fraud, flash mobs, retailers’ legislative efforts, effective deterrence strategies and the role of social networking in investigations.
